Steering mechanism for aeroplanes.



J. W. MILLER. STEERING MECHANISM ma AEROPLANES,

APPLICATION FILED APR; 10, l9l8 med M11919 I EIII.

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accomplished so as to compensate for opera tors who are short or tail of stature thus adjusting for best results by the individual usingit.

The object of my an adjustment Ofi this character invention is to provide which may be conveniently and easily adjusted and which is also reliably constructed. and dependable.

' The features of my invention comprise the combinations of parts which will be hereinafter particularly pointed out in the claims. i

V In the accompanying; drawings I have shown'a form ot construction for carrying out my invention which is that now previded, this being; I M It is evident ferred by me.

Figure l is a plan view of a-portion of the fuselageoff; an aeroplane showing the steering mechanism thereon,

Figs. 2 and? are plan views on a larger scale, showing respectively, the forward and rear steering bars and the manner of connectingthe some with the steering; leads.

Fig. it-is "an elevation of the forward steerinn bar as seen from the rear, one end there of being broken away.

Fitz. 5 is a transverse section taken through the stecringpivot of the 't'orward steering-bar.

Fig. 6' is a view similarto Fig. i showing the rear steering bar,

Fi i 7* is a transverse section through the steering pivot oi the rear steering bar.

Fig. 8 is a side view of one of thebars upon which the pivotbasis for ti 1 steering bar is mounted for adjustment.

In the operation ofaeroplanes, the steering rudder is usually controlled from a pivoted bar which is controlled by the feet of the ope ator A neat for the operator is prousually in a fixed position. that with the seat and with specification of Letters Patent.

principle.

) STEERING MECHANISM FOR. AEIEOIELANES.

Plantain. r, iota Application filed April 10, 1918. Serial No. 227,613.

the steering bartboth secured in fixedand.

unadjustahlo positions the steering bar must be placed near enough to the seat to be op erated by a comparatively short man and when so placed is not in position to hev operated to the best advantage by a tall man. The object of my invention is to provide means for mountinp onc of these parts so as to august the separation between the seat and the steering bar and in this way accommodate different height and length of legs i ofthe operator,

In Fig.1, 1 represents the twp steering leads, by this meaning the rods, cables or whatever connecting devices may he used for communicating the steering action from the operator to the rudder. A. rudder 16 is shown pivoted at the point 11 to the fuscloge and controlled through a yoke or bar 12 to which the steering leads 1 are connected. The construction of this latterpart or the apparatus is immaterial. My invention pertains to the steering bars which are operated by the feet and the manner of ad justing the same.

Each one of the steering leads 1, passes forward to beyond both of the seats 113 and 14. l Vhcre provision is made for carrying two men, provision is also made so that either of these men may control the steering. In each one of the loads 1, adjacent the ends of the steering bars 3, is placed a bar 2 which is of flat-metal and provided with aseries of holes. These bai's constitute a portion of the steering; leads; that is, thecontiolling efi'ort is communicated through these bars.

, Steering bars 3 are pivotally mounted upon their centers 30 and at their outer ends are provided with a clip 4: which has a top and bottom ear spaced apart so as to pass over or embrace the adjusting steering leads. A bolt or pin 4-1, passing through the holes in these ears and the corresponding holes in the adjustment bar 2; pivotally secure the two together.

Ell

bar 2 of the Each of the steering bars 3 is pivoted cen- I trally upon a pivot, as 30. This pivot is carriedrby a pivot base, as 5 and 50, these varying slightly in construction for the front and the rear bars, although losing the same in These pivot bases are mounted upon tore-and-aft extending bars 6, which are secured upon the frame in fixed position.

The method of securing is such as will make 1 it possible to cemvenfuz-nti} adjust the steeringo ing bar as a. whole toward the front or the rear and by amounts corresponding with the spacing of the holes in the ad ustment bars 2. The pivot base 5, which is that of the forward osition, has its main element consistf a plate of sheet metal 5, wh1ch' 1s stamped into the shape clearly shown n Figs. 4 and 5. The main plate 5 has a center 51 slightly raised and has a short section 52 of pipe secured thereto and also securely held bya'supplemental plate 53 which is stamped downward and engages the lower end of the pivot or pipe 52. The plate 53 is secured by its ends to the under surface of the main plate 5.

Each of the steerlng rods 3 has a short pipe section 31 secured therein and fitting over the pipe section 52 which forms the fixed pivot. The plate 5 which forms the base for the forward steering barhas its edges 54: flanged downward and so positioned as to extend over the upper edge of the vertical flange of the supporting bar 6. This prevents lateral movement of the pivot base. The plate 5 also has ears 55 stamped therefrom 'and extending downwardly, these being provided with holes for the receipt of the securing bolts 7. The vertical flanges 60 of the supporting'ears are provided with holes spaced to conform to the spacing of the holes in'the adjustment bar2. The bolts 7 pass through the holes in the bar 6 and also through the holes in the ears 55 and thus secure the pivot base in adjusted position.

The pivot base 50 for the rear steering bar,

is somewhat different in construction, as the steering bar is mounted at a somewhat higher elevation. This base employs a a plate 8, which is bent upwardly and Which is so shaped as to haveits lower portion placed The plate are preferably bent inward so asto form a stiffening flange 80.

A Z-shaped plate 8 is secured at top and bottom to the side portions of the plate 50 and forms a support for the lower end of the pivot tube 52. supporting bars 6 are provided with holes spa ed as previously described, through which the securing bolts 7 pass. The manner of adjusting is similarto that described for the other steering bar.

It is evident that by the means illustrated, or their uivalent, it is possible to quickly the leg of the. operator,

The vertical webs 60 of the.

adjust the position of the steermg bars 3 so as to make them conform to the length of and by constructing the adjusting means so that the increment of spacingin which adjustment is permissible, both in the steering leads and of the pivot base with its support, shall be alike, there is no probability of making an adjustment which will not work Well. The adjustment for different positions is amatter of only a few minutes time and it contributes to the convenience of control.

connecting the steering bars with the adjustment bars 2 of the steering leads consists .of a sheet metal stamping which has two side portions 40, connected by the central portion of the plateto form a fit- The means for ting which is U-shape intransverse cross-.

section and which fits over the outer end of the bar 3. This forms a light and yet a strong fitting.

To form convenient means of securing and engaging this bar with thefeet, a strip 9 of metal, is secured to the rear edge of the steering bar. This is bent so as to form two slight brackets 90, spaced apart so asto admit the sole of the operators shoe between them and to prevent the possibility of the foot slipping off the bar oven should the same be turned a. considerable angle. This bar is preferably continued and bent over the outer end of the bar3, which bar '3 is preferably made of Wood.

' This type of construction makes a steering bar which is very strong and yet light. The adjusting means described makes it possible to adjust these steering bars to conform to any reasonable requirement as to their position.

What I claim as my invention is:

In a steering control for aeroplanes, steering leads, adjustment bars inserted in said steering leads and having a series of holes for adjustment purposes, a foot bar'adapted to have its ends pivoted to said adjustment bars, a pivot base for the foot bar, supporting bars extending in a fore-and-aft direction and having a series of holes conforming in spacing with the spacing of the holes in the adjustment bars, and bolts for securing the pivot base passing through said holes in the supporting bars.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 30th day of March, 1918. i

JOHN W. MILLER. 

